| Peter Chin | |
|---|---|
Peter Chin starting the 2010 Rally of Otago |
|
| Born | 1941 (age 70–71) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Peter Wing Ho Chin (陳荣和, pinyin: Chén Rónghé) CNZM (born 1941) is a lawyer and was the 56th Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand. He served two terms as Mayor from 2004 to 2010.
Chin is a descendant of the earliest Chinese immigrants to New Zealand,[1] and his family owned a take-away establishment in Stuart Street.
In the 1950s Chin was a student at Otago Boys' High School and then the University of Otago, graduating LLB. He has worked in Dunedin as a lawyer since 1968, and is currently a consultant for the Otago law firm Webb Farry. First elected in 1995 to the Dunedin City Council, representing the Hills Ward, he served three terms before becoming mayor in 2004, replacing Sukhi Turner who was retiring as mayor. He was re-elected in October 2007 with an absolute majority.[2]
Chin serves as the head of the Gambling Commission, the government-appointed panel that regulates casinos. Married to Noleen since c.1964 with 4 children,[3] he lives in Roslyn and is a prominent operatic singer.
In 2003, he was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local body and community affairs.[4]
He is also a member of the national Chinese Poll Tax HeritageTrust which was set up with government funding in 2004.[5] The trust aims to raise awareness of the early Chinese community in New Zealand and its history, language and culture.
Chin played a minor part in the 1987 film Illustrious Energy, a historic drama based on the experiences of Chinese gold miners in Central Otago.[6]
Chin is a strong supporter of the controversial Forsyth Barr Stadium, over which questions have been raised over the cost and source of funding.[7][8] This support almost certainly cost him the election. In the course of examining funding options he sent a confidential letter to the Government asking for money without full Council approval,[9] and was on a committee of three that later censured Councillor Teresa Stevenson for leaking the letter to the Otago Daily Times.[10] Chin chaired the Chinese Gardens Trust which built the Dunedin Chinese Garden, using $3.75 million of New Zealand taxpayers and $1 million of Dunedin ratepayers money.[11][12] The Gardens were constructed in an authentic manner, using almost a thousand tonnes of rocks imported from Lake Taihu, China.[13]
During the 2010 Dunedin mayoral election, he was defeated by Greater Dunedin candidate and Dunedin City Council councillor Dave Cull.[14]